The Art of Fashion: How Paris is Redefining Accessibility in Haute Couture

I just returned from a week in Paris, and the innovative approach to fashion struck me. In this case, I am not talking about innovation in fashion itself but how innovation is creatively shared with the public in public spaces, museums, or the street. The creative way to share couture to make it accessible is just mind-blowing.

I go to Paris a few times a year and always look for innovation in the French cultural context. This time, I was there during fashion week (unfortunately, I did not have a chance to go), and fashion was everywhere.

At the street level, I saw several construction sites where they covered the remodeling work with artwork sponsored by brands. On the Champs Elysees, Louis Vuitton’s building was covered to look like a giant piece of luggage, the Opera was covered with Longchamps canvas to cover the façade cleaning, and the remodeling of the Renault automotive salon was covered with an artistic rendering of their logo.

What truly captivated me were the two exclusive fashion exhibits I had the privilege to attend, Louvre Couture at the Louvre and Dolce Gabbana at the recently reopened Grand Palais. Their uniqueness and exclusivity made the experience even more special.

The Louvre Couture exhibition  99 includes fashion pieces, including dresses, coats, vests, paths, shoes, and purses…all inspired by antique objects. Each piece was placed in a room with the objects that inspired it. 

It took us over 3 hours and went through more than 50 rooms to see all the pieces dispersed throughout the Department of Decorative Arts, an area of the Louvre I had not seen before.

Here are a few examples of amazing pieces:

Chanel jewelry pieces inspired by antique jewelry

Dolce & Gabbana dress inspired by a famous Byzantine mosaic

A dress inspired by a chest drawer

 A dress inspired by tapestries

A purse inspired by faience

Christian Louboutin shoes

A Dior dress inspired by the Napoleonian apartment

What I found brilliant and innovative was connecting recent fashion pieces with their historical influences and realizing the importance of roots and history in innovation. 

The Dolce & Gabbana exhibit, Le Coeur sur la Main (the Heart in the Hand), displayed the work of this famous fashion house. And it was the most creative exhibit I have ever seen. 

The experience began in a truly unique way: with tickets for a late-night visit at 10:45 PM, the only ones available. The anticipation of exploring an exhibition at the Grand Palais, located at the foot of the Champs Elysees, late at night was both exciting and intriguing. 

I had little expectations since I had not heard much about the exhibition except that it was great, but once I went up the stairs and opened a heavy black velvet curtain, I was blown away. The first room had around 20 amazing pieces in a collection focused on classical paintings, and the room itself was full of modern paintings by a French painter in the retro style, including famous people like Liza Minelli. My head swirled looking at these amazing pieces of fashion, each unique and yet creating a coherent collection. They also had ceiling mirrors, so you are immersed in fashion. 

This room was just the beginning; next came a room with projections on the walls that kept changing (from blue sky to outdoor scenes), then a Roman temple, a Byzantine room, a copy of the Milan studio where the clothes are made, an Opera scene with clothing incorporating glass and a delightful Sicilian room where the dresses blended with the wall. 

All rooms also had glass ceilings where you could see the whole room upside down. It was simply magical and extraordinary. Once again, it connected history and fashion, creating a unique experience beyond witnessing fashion pieces.

In addition, some of these rooms have incorporated sounds (like broken glass for the opera room or music) making this multi sensorial experience

These experiences are connected to innovation because they embrace these key principles around innovation

• Innovation may include products, but experiences are as, if not more, meaningful.

• When you think about innovating, consider every touch point with your customers and set up expectations around your product/services or experience.

• Create awe, surprise, and delight. 

• Understand that creativity and innovation are not in a vacuum but connected to the past. Embody this connection and leapfrog from it to create amazing outcomes.

If you visit Paris soon, see these fantastic exhibits and enjoy a city where fashion is everywhere. 

What experience(s)  have you had recently that was mind-blowing? Please share.